Amusement device



F. CHAPMAN. AMUSEMENT DE-ViCE. APPLICATION FILED MAR 27,1922.

Patented July 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. CHAPMAN.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 27,1922.

2 2. 9 1 1T DIE 4M 8 y m J m 2 m a P H 'm W WM I: $2M w I 2 T N m 2 3 moan Tot F 6 20 1720 4 61m: no t FRANK CHAPMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed March 27', 1922.

citizen of the United States of America, re-

sidin at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and sgtate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to an amusement device of: the serial type, wherein a passenger-carrying car, constructed to simulate an aeroplane, is adapted for travel on a cable, having its respective ends anchored in carrier blocks. adapted for adjustment on tracks fixed on relatively remote derricks, the relative adjustment of the carrier blocks providing desirable incline in the cable from one derrick to the other, to cause the car to travel lengthwise the cable by gravity.

The invention provides a traveler adapted for running connection with the cable, and provided with means whereby the speed of the traveler on the cable may be manually controlled; the aeroplane car proper being movably supported from the traveler and adapted to be turned at will in order to travel in a forward direction from the respective derricks in succession, the car being provided with means whereby it may be locked against turning movement relative to the traveler at will.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the improved amusement apparatus in the pre ferred form of details.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation showingthe traveler and aeroplane car supported thereby.

Fig. is a plan view of the traveler.

Fig. L is a section on line 4 l of Fig.

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail, showing particularly the means for permitting reversal of the aeroplane car and the means for-locking it in either position relative to the traveler.

The improved amusement apparatus, which is designed more particularly for amusement parks, seaside resorts, and the like, comprises spaced derricks 1 the uprightframe portions 2 of which are designed to reach a considerable elevation. Of course it will be understood that these derricks in their entirety are constructed of such material and so braced and connected as to in- Specificationof Letters Patent.

rammed July 4, 1922.

Serial No. 547,300.

sure their absolute stability in use under any and all possible strains to which they maybe subjected. The upright frame portions include spaced parallel bars 8, preferably inclined as shown, on the inner surfaces of which are arranged tracks 4:. Carrier blocks 5 are adapted to travel lengthwise the tracks 4;, operating. cables 6 being connected to the carrier blocks and extending in both directions therefromto and around idlers- 7 and then appropriately wound on a power operated drum 8, in the manual control of which the carrier blocks may be obvlously placed at any desired height from the surface on which the derricks are resting. A

supporting cable 9 is anchored at its respective ends in the respective carrier blocks 5, the connection of the cable ends and blocks being such as to insure and maintain such connection under any and all strains to which the supporting cable may be subjected. It will be apparent from the structure so far described that by proper adjustment of the carrier blocks in their respective derricks, the supporting cable may be inclined from one derrick to the other, with the inclination in either direction, and the degree of such inclination anything desired within range of the derrick heights.

A traveler 10 is designed for travel lengthwise the supportin cable and comprises a substantial elongated box-like casing 11 in which are mounted a series of transverse shafts or axles 12. Centrally secured on the respective axles 12 are grooved rollers 13 adapted to rest upon the supporting cable 9 in the movement of the traveler, cooperating idlers 14; being rotatably supported innuediately below the cable rollers 13 to prevent the cable leaving-said'cable rollers. Secured .upon each end of each axle 12, beyond the cable rollers 13 1s a grooved braking roller 15, there being thus presented a longitudinal series of braking rollers on each side of the traveler. Centrally of the traveler on each side thereof are independently mounted brake drums 16, preferably in the form of peripherally channeled rollers, as shown. The brakin rollers-15 are channeled to present flat brakin' surfaces 17 and brake bands 18 are secured to the respective ends of the casing on each side and pass alternately beneath and over the successive braking rollers 15 and are terminally secured to the braking drums 16. Each braking drum is thus connected with two oppositely ex- )referabl secured to diametricall opposite l y Y points of the drum- An operating bar 19 is the speed of secured to each brake drum 16, and connectors 20 terminating in handles 21 depend from the operating bars to permit the operator to move the brake drums as desired, and thus through the frictional bearing of the bands 18 on the braking rollers 15, control .the traveler lengthwise the cable 9. 7 I Thepassenger carrier or car is built to simulate as closely as possible an ordinary aeroplane, indicated generally at 22. This aeroplane may, aside from the details hereinafter described, be of any desired form or construction, so long as it will accommodate the desired number of passengers. It is preferred of course that the passenger car so called have all the known features of the aeroplane, other than the engine and con nected controls, it being contemplated that the usual planes will aid in supporting the car in its travel and thus increase the simu lation of aeroplane movement. If desired,

and as preferred, a propeller 23 may be mounted for independent movement in the usual position on the aeroplane, which propeller will have movement imparted thereto in the travel of the car through the air.

For the purposes of the present invention, the aeroplane car, of whatever type or design constructed, is provided with an upstanding tubular stem 24, adapted to receive a supporting rod 25, the upper end of which rod extends above the tubular stem 24 and is movabl connected at 26 to an appropriate hanger 2 depending from the traveler. Thus the aeroplane is swingingly supported from the traveler to permit a more natural movement of the aeroplane car in transit. The lower; end of the rod 25 is provided with a cross bar 28 and immediately above said cross bar with a bearing member 29, preferably in the form of a ball bearing or the like with which the appropriately formed lower end of the tubular stem 24 cooperates.

either operative position at will. With the aeroplane locked'to the bar 28, it is fixed with respect to the traveler sofar as turning is concerned, while with the levers 32 free of the recesses 31, the car body may be turned with respect to the traveler at will, as for example by a gear 37 secured upon a stem 24, to be engaged by a pinion 38 opercar to engage said ated by a hand wheel =39.' The aeroplane car body may be thus changed in direction at will, so that such car may travel forward from the respective'derricks in succession. As a margin of safety, it is preferred that the tubular stem 2 1;be provided near the upper end with a freely rotatable collar 40, from which independent chains 41 extend loosely to the respective corners of the trav-' eler. 10.

The operation of the amusement apparanection with the drawing. Obviously, either derrick carrier block may be elevated with respect to the other, giving the supporting cable an inclination from one derrick to the,

other. The aeroplane car, which has previously received its passengers beforethe carrier block at that particular derrick has been elevated, will thus travel lengthwise the supporting cable, with a speed controlled by the braking mechanism of the traveler and at the will of the operator.

The aeroplane car may be readily reversed as described for travel in the opposite direction, this travel requiring reversal of the relative positions of the carrier blocks.

It is of coursecontemplated that the derricks will be spaced a considerable distance apart, and in this particular, no account need be taken of the intervening surface. For example, the supporting cable may pass over a body of water, between hills, or otherwise located to simulate regular aeroplane travel.

Claims:

1. An aerial amusement apparatus, comtraveler adapted for traveling cooperation with the cable, a rod "depending from the traveler, an aeroplane car mounted for free rotary movement on the rod, and means for locking said car with respect to the rod.

2. An aerial amusement apparatus, com prising in combination spaced derricks, car rier blocks adapted for vertical adjustment on the derricks, a supporting cable; terminally connectedto thecarrier blocks, a

traveler adapted for traveling cooperation with the cable, a rod depending fromV-the traveler, a supporting plate carried by the rod, an aeroplane carhaving a tubular'stem to rotatably engage said rod, means-on said plate for locking the. car with-respect to the rod.

3. An aerial amusement apparatus, comrising in combination spaced derricks, carrier blocks adapted for vertical adjustment on the derricks, a supporting cable tersminally connected to theflcarrier blocks, a .traveler having rollers to cooperate with the cable, manually operable braking mechanism to control the movement of said rollers, and an aeroplane car having rotatable connection with the traveler.

4. An aerial amusement apparatus comprising in combination spaced derricks, carrier blocks adapted for vertical adjustment on the derricks a supporting cable terminally connected to the carrier blocks, a traveler having rollers to cooperate with the cable, manually operable braking mechanism to control the movement of said rollers, an aeroplane car having rotatable connection with the traveler, and means whereby the car may be locked in desired traveling relation with the traveler.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK CHAPMAN. 

